Kentchurch Court Gardens   by Ade Lewis

in Travel    (submitted 2011-08-22)

Kentchurch Court is a remarkable stately home, originally a 14th century castle. It is hidden within the Monnow Valley in Herefordshire, UK. This famous house forms part of a huge five thousand acre estate surrounded by its ancient deer park, bordering both England and Wales.

The house has been used as a film location on several occasions featuring in 'The Vault of Horror' and 'On the Black Hill'. In 2003 the house was refurbished to be used as the television set for the Channel 4 reality show 'Regency House Party'. A total of twenty-five rooms were redesigned and fitted in the various styles of the Regency period at an estimated cost of £250,000 in exchange for the use of the house. Packing up the house in preparation for the refurbishment took ten weeks and three miles of bubble wrap. More recently in 2011, Kentchurch Court was featured in Channel 4's Country House Rescue.

The original house at Kentchurch dates back to the 11th century and is Grade 1 listed building, it is the ancestral home of the Scudamore family and impressively it has continued to be handed down through generations of the family for almost a thousand years, since 1058. The present house was renovated by John Nash in 1795 in the Gothic revival style, is now regarded as one of the most significantly important historic houses in the UK and dates back to the 14th century.

Kentchurch Court is still a family home and is currently owned and run by Jan Lucas-Scudamore and her family, it will subsequently be handed down to her son Joss.

The deer park at Kentchurch, originally established on a medieval settlement currently contains approximately two hundred and fifty fallow deer. This area was previously owned by the Knights Templar and was formally a Royal hunting ground. It was purchased by the Scudamore family almost five hundred years ago from the Knights Hospitallers of Dinmore. By prior arrangement it is possible to visit the deer park and enjoy an organised walk through the many ancient Yew, Sweet Chestnut, Maple and Oak trees.

The 25 acre gardens have been extensively developed since 1815 when the house was inherited by John Lucy Scudamore who had the gardens designed and landscaped in the picturesque style which was so popular at that particular time. This style is still evident today and there are interesting collections of a wide variety of flowering plants including rhododendrons and geraniums, along with an impressive range of mature trees and breath-taking displays of wild woodland plants during the spring including snowdrops, bluebells and daffodils.

Wonderful borders within the walled area of the garden contain interesting collections of various plant families. There are immaculate terraced lawn areas and an impressive mature apple orchard, also planted with an array of colour. During the autumn a display of rich colour is provided by the gardens wonderful maple tree collection.

Throughout the entire year, the extensive vegetable garden at Kentchurch provides the house with seasonal produce. The vegetable garden is unusually beautiful and of particular note due to a range of roses, and other flowering climbers which are grown on supporting structures within the garden in order to stimulate and promote pollination of the vegetables.

About the Author

Gardens Herefordshire. The gardens at Kentchurch Court are open to the public as part of the National garden Scheme and also by prior arrangement. Visit our 'What's On' page for more information about access to the estate's Herefordshire Gardens